At a time when many people will be thinking about their New Year’s resolutions, Blackburn with Darwen Council health bosses are urging smokers who are considering quitting this January to take advantage of free support to improve their health and save money.

The call to quit follows a hard hitting national campaign by Public Health England which highlights how smoking damages the body and causes a slow and steady decline in the body’s key systems akin to rotting.

Whilst many smokers know that smoking causes cancer and harms the lungs and heart, a new expert review commissioned by Public Health England highlights how it also damages bones and muscles, brain, teeth and eyes.

In Blackburn with Darwen, free support to quit is available via the Blackburn with Darwen Stop Smoking Service.

Research shows you are four times more likely to quit with this extra support than stopping on your own.

Councillor Mohammed Khan, Executive Member for Adult Heath and Social Care, said:

Whilst many smokers know the damage cigarettes do to their hearts and lungs, they are much less likely to be aware of how harmful smoking is to other parts of body. We want to help as many people as possible in Blackburn with Darwen to kick the habit this January.

“There is a wide range of support available, including our local stop smoking service, who help hundreds of people every year to quit. If you have been thinking about quitting now is the time to do it. Giving up smoking is probably the best gift you could give to yourself, your family and your children in 2015.

For further information contact the Blackburn with Darwen Stop Smoking Service on (01254) 587999 or email: quitsmoking@blackburn.gov.uk Twitter: @BwDStopSmoking or search BwD Stop Smoking on Facebook.